Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Police are looking for the person who hit a 1987 Pontiac Firebird belonging to 21-year-old John Joseph Vinelli III of Bradford while it was parked at the Roadhouse Bar in Lewis Run at 3 a.m. Saturday. The vehicle also hit the bar then fled the scene. Also, someone stole a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville owned by Stephanie DeFilippo of Bradford while it was parked at the Roadhouse. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact Kane-based state police at 778-5555. A South Dayton, New York, man is facing charges for stealing scrap metal from a home in Hanover over. 32-year-old Patrick Hartloff is charged with grand larceny and is being held in Chautauqua County Jail. A Westfield man was charged with unlawfully dealing with a minor, criminal mischief and other offenses following a traffic stopped Saturday morning in the Town of Portland. Deputies say 26-year-old Joshua Wells had a 17-year-old passenger who was intoxicated, and that Wells had given the teen prescription medication.

Police are looking into criminal mischief at Busty Heart’s Place in Turtlepoint that happened early Saturday morning. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, they say someone saw a vehicle driven by 38-year-old Matthew VanScoter of Eldred leaving the scene. Police stopped VanScoter at the intersection of Main and Mechanic streets in Eldred and determined that he was driving under the influence. Police say they’re still investigating the criminal mischief complaint, and that VanScoter provided them with information about the person who did the damage.

Thanks to Bob for letting me know "Chevy Van" was a hit in the '70s. And thanks for listening! (Sorry I didn't get to the phone fast enough to talk to you.) I've already listened to the song twice. I wonder if I still have the 45 somewhere.

Two Romanian nationals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for trying to steal account information from PNC Bank customers. The US Attorney’s office say 28-year-old Alexandru Serb and 27-year-old Mihai Popa conspired to steal the information using a device designed to record customer bank account and PIN information at ATMs. They each face more than 30 years in prison and a fine of more than $1 million if they’re convicted. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_may/2010_05_12_05.html

Bradford City Police on Friday looked into disputes on Cole Avenue, Main Street and Brennan Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. They also received complaints about noise on Congress Street, an animal on Constitution Avenue, an ATV on Chestnut Street and juveniles on Mechanic Street and Jackson Avenue. They got reports of alarms on West Washington Street and Chautauqua Place, criminal mischief to a vehicle on East Main Street and harassment on Euclid Avenue. Officers were also asked to check people on Interstate Parkway, Brennan, East Main and Main streets, and debris on the road on Route 219. They also got about a dozen requests to speak with an officer.

A junior firefighter from Gowanda, New York, has been charged with arson. In an e-mail to WESB and The HERO, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say their investigation into a fire at 12:45 Monday afternoon led them to the 17-year-old who is a member of the Gowanda Fire Department. They didn’t release his name because of his age. He was charged with arson and criminal mischief, then released on his own recognizance. The fire damaged a greenhouse and shed belonging to Pamela Pyle of West Main Street in Gowanda.

Governor Ed Rendell has vetoed a bill he says would get in the way of the liquor control board’s attempts to modernize operations at state stores. The bill would have barred state liquor stores from having an interior connection to another business that allows alcohol consumption, which means liquor stores couldn't have a door connecting them to restaurants or other establishments that let people bring in their own bottles. Rendell says the state shouldn't make it harder for liquor sales to be more convenient for consumers. http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=824783&mode=2

A Salamanca man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a police chase in April of last year. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, the Cattaraugus County District Attorney's office say 23-year-old Curtis Zolner is charged with aggravated vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. Zolner and his three passengers had to be hospitalized after his vehicle crashed into a bridge in Little Valley in the early morning hours of April 25, 2009. Salamanca Police say they tried to stop Zolners’ vehicle in the city but it evaded them, as well as sheriff's deputies. The vehicle eventually crashed to the bridge on Whig Street. Zolner will be sentenced on July 19. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/four-hurt-in-little-valley-crash.html

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director A Police Memorial Day service was held this afternoon at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The annual services honors officers who were killed in the line of duty, and specifically the three in this region who have died in the last 20 years. The officers in this region who died are Carl Whippo of Johnsonburg, Dave Distrola of Bradford and Steve Jerman of Kane. McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn was the keynote speaker during the service and said and reminded the officers there that they have unique jobs other people can never understand. “They won’t understand what it’s like to deal with irate motorists on a traffic stop," Learn said. "They’ll never understand what it’s like to work the swing shifts you do or the double-backs and the stress that places on your family life. They’ll never, certainly, understand what you feel like when you respond to fatal crashes, infant deaths and murder scenes. And they will never unders

The Quaker Lake swim area at Allegany State Park along with Long Point State Park are two parks across New York State that will be closed starting Monday in an effort to save money for the state. Governor David Paterson says closing 41 parks and 14 historic sites will save about $12 million. Paterson is also planning to delay scheduled state aid payments to school districts that’s due June 1. The payments have already been delayed twice. These payments add up to more than $1 billion. Lawmakers have been trying to persuade Paterson to put money into emergency appropriation bills, which are passed weekly to keep the government running until a new 2010 budget is passed. The state budget is now six weeks late. http://www.nysparks.com/parks/1/details.aspx

HARRISBURG —As part of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ongoing efforts to improve court collections, beginning May 17, McKean County courts will offer “e-Pay”—a Web-based application for the state’s criminal case management systems that allows defendants to make court payments via the Internet with a credit or debit card. Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille said, “e-Pay is yet another tool designed by our Judicial Automation staff to assist court officials in performing their duties. The new feature allows the public to securely pay traffic tickets and other court financial obligations via the Internet, eliminating the need to visit a court office or mail a check. In addition, court staff will be able to quickly process payments received without assisting customers and re-entering payment data into the system.” The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts is providing this service at no cost to the county. A transaction convenience fee of $2.75 will be charged to the user. A person i

Another inmate at FCI-McKean has been indicted in connection with bringing drugs into the prison. 38-year-old Jorge Borges-Rosario is accused of taking heroin and marijuana from Karlos Serrano of the Bronx on December 19. Earlier this week, we told you about charges against Serrano and 22-year-old Laquita Stephens of Buffalo who provided marijuana to an FCI-McKean inmate on November 23, 2009, as well as 41-year-old Lisa Michaels of Campbell, Ohio, who provided marijuana to another inmate, her son, 21-year-old Randy Michaels, on December 20. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_may/2010_05_11_08.html http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_may/2010_05_11_07.html http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_may/2010_05_11_03.html

A Bradford man is in jail after stealing drill bits from Allegheny Bradford Corporation in Lewis Run. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, police say about 9:45 Thursday night 30-year-old Michael Cary went to Allegheny Bradford to remove his personal tools. A supervisor escorted Cary from the property and told him not to return. Police say Cary did return a short time later and stole a shoebox containing numerous assorted carbine drill bits valued at $300 to $400. He was found at his home and arrested on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and trespassing. His bail is set at $10,000.

By George Nianiatus, senior writer/media manager Marketing and Communications Department Upper Allegheny Health System Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) volunteers, many who also serve as members of Bradford Hospital Auxiliary, were honored Thursday during the Annual Recognition Luncheon at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.There are 220 volunteers serving the hospital through Volunteer Services or the Auxiliary. Also at the luncheon, three scholarships were awarded by the Auxiliary and Bradford Hospital Foundation. After thanking all the volunteers for their dedicated support of BRMC, Timothy J. Finan, President and CEO of the hospital and parent company Upper Allegheny Health System, said there have been many positive developments in the past six months since integrating with Olean General Hospital. "We're making great progress," Mr. Finan said, indicating he's also impressed with BRMC's breadth of services. But even in a challenging environment, he

Bradford City Police on Thursday answered a noise complaint on Kennedy Street, looked into a theft on Cole Avenue, checked an area of Chautauqua Place and investigated an alarm on Elm Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. They also responded to a motor vehicle accident on School Street, a report of an injured person on Elm Street and juvenile complaints on School Street and East Main Street.

State police are looking for the person who punctured a tire on Martin Jacobs’ SUV while it was parked in the Camp Run area of Westline on Sunday afternoon. The person is 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and weights about 220 pounds. He was white hair, a white beard and false teeth. He was driving on red Chevrolet Camaro with a Steelers plate on the front. Someone shot Brenda Walker’s mailbox on Wilcox Clermont Road at about 11:30 Saturday night. Damage is estimated at $40. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call Kane-based state police at 778-5555.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski is urging the General Assembly to close loopholes in the state’s Megan’s Law. In a fax to WESB and The HERO, he says the loopholes hinder law enforcement efforts to prosecute out-of-state sex offenders who don’t register when they move to Pennsylvania. In mid-March, the Pennsylvania Superior Court held that some out-of-state offenders who don’t comply with their registration requirement can’t be criminally prosecuted under Pennsylvania’s current Megan’s Law without specific statutory charges. "As a matter of public safety, I strongly support … legislation to fix the problems in Megan's Law and urge its passage as soon as possible," Pawlowski wrote this week in a letter to key legislators. New York Governor David Paterson has proposed legislation to close that loophole in his state.

Washington, D.C.—Britaney Dunkle, a senior at Franklin High School, has won the Congressional Art Competition for the 5th District sponsored by U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard. Her pencil drawing will hang on the walls of the tunnel between the Cannon House Office Building and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. “It is amazing to me that one so young can show such talent and skill,” said Thompson. “She has shown her brothers and sister in a moment of concern—and you feel that as you look at the piece.” Congressmen and their guests and visitors have a year to admire the hundreds of pieces of art from congressional districts around the country and then the Congressional Art Competition starts another round for 2011. Dunkle’s parents are Jill and Bill Bailey of Franklin. She is the student of Christine Flood at her high school. Her pencil drawing of her brothers and sister has a caption Dunkle added: “Growing up is never easy: learn from the past & prepare for

The Source, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s student newspaper has earned a first-place award in the American Scholastic Press Association national competition. This is the second year in a row that the newspaper has been awarded first place. The Source received a second-place honor in 2008. The association judges critiqued editions from the fall term. “Another first-place award is evidence that the staff of writers and photographers has committed itself to journalism excellence,” said Alex Davis, Source editor for the 2009-10 academic year. Tim Ziaukus, associate professor of public relations and faculty adviser, said, “The Source staff members have been working especially hard for the past few semesters, and this recognition underscores their efforts and their ongoing improvements.” In addition to Davis, a public relations major from Emporium, members of the editorial staff are managing editor Lesley Bickford, a public relatio

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has named Rhett Kennedy the new director of auxiliary services. Formerly, he was the associate dean of student affairs and director of residential life and housing. Kennedy has been the interim director since the departure of Dr. Bridgett Passauer in January 2009. Auxiliary services encompasses housing, dining services, The Panther Shop, mail center, vending, ID center and more. “Rhett already has a history of demonstrated leadership, innovation and commitment to the campus and the surrounding community, and we are confident he will excel in his new position,” said Richard T. Esch, vice president for business affairs. A national search has been launched to fill the vacancy created by Kennedy’s departure from student affairs. Kennedy is a 1992 graduate of Pitt-Bradford and holds a master of arts degree in student affairs in higher education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Kennedy returned to his alma mater in 1996 as director of resident

Work will start on the Route 219 Elm Street on-ramp next week as part of the Bradford Bypass project. Traffic will be moved onto the existing shoulder. Crews will be working close to the road, excavating for a new barrier wall. Motorists should expect delays during work hours. PennDOT expects Tuna Crossroads to be open by the end of next week. Before that, the road will be closed while crews install work platforms. You can read the news release here: – PennDOT issues the following travel update for the Route 219/Bradford Bypass project in McKean County. This update is for the week of May 17. All work is weather and schedule dependent. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $28 million job. · Work is scheduled to start on the Route 219 southbound ON-ramp at Elm Street. Traffic will be moved onto the existing shoulder. Contractor crew will be working close to the roadway, excavating for a new barrier wall. Expect delays during work hours. · Northbound traffic

Warren and Clearfield counties will get a share of the nearly $13 million awarded by PennDOT today for rail projects. In Warren County, Allegheny & Eastern Railroad will get $900,000 to build a new siding, replace culverts, install new turnouts, switch ties, cross ties and for ditch and grading work. In Clearfield County, River Hill Coal Company will get $525,000 to install a new scale, buy loading equipment and rehabilitate 2,000 feet of track. The money comes from PennDOT’s Rail Freight Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program. http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=824149&mode=2

Agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation along with local police officers from the Attorney General's Meth Task Force have arrested five people in connection with the search of a suspected meth lab, located in an apartment complex in Titusville, Crawford County. Corbett identified the defendants as Ashley Ann Bryan, 19, 106 Beechwood Drive, Apartment 301, Titusville; Joshua Derick Elslager, 22, 43310 Thompson Run Road, Titusville; Aaron Douglas Hopkins, 25, 226 East Walnut St., Titusville; Matthew C. Peterson, 25, 22491 Wendell Way, Pleasantville; and Danole James Ruddell, 25, 980 Tarr Road, Titusville. Corbett said today's arrests were based on information about the defendants' alleged purchase of ingredients used for methamphetamine production. Also this morning, agents executed a search warrant on Bryan's Titusville apartment, which had allegedly been used on numerous occasions as the site for a meth lab. http://attorneygeneral.gov/pre

On Saturday, June 12, 2010 and Sunday, June 13, 2010 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will be hosting a return trip to the Allegheny River for their annual sojourn. Participants will travel the wild and scenic river by canoe from Warren, PA to Indian Waters Livery located a few miles north of Tidioute, PA. The trip will include activities and presentations that are centered on the theme "Soaring down the Allegheny." The upper Allegheny River is home to a variety of unique and interesting birds. Since the 1970s, bald eagles have been making a strong comeback in this region, and great blue herons are on the rise. Come learn more about the birds that depend on the Allegheny River for their survival. In 1984, Congress recognized the importance of preserving some of the river¹s unique features by designating seven of the islands in the Allegheny River as National Forest Islands, part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Come join us as we explore these islands along

A Port Allegany man wasn’t hurt, but is facing charges, following an accident at 5:30 this morning on Route 155 in Liberty Township. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, state police say a pickup truck driven by 42-year-old William Ostrander went out of control, traveled into a lawn and hit several small trees. Ostrander was charged with driving under the influence.

A State Police fire marshal has determined that a fire late Monday night at the old Canoe Place Inn on Main Street in Port Allegany was arson. The fire marshal says cardboard and other materials were purposely ignited in a storage room, causing limited damage. The Port Allegany Borough Police Department is continuing its investigation. The building, owned by Sheetz, was scheduled for demolition.

The Oregon Court of Appeals says that state has jurisdiction over part of a business owned by a member of the Seneca Nation. The court upheld a state ruling over sales in a case involving Scott Maybee’s Internet cigarette sales business. Maybee had argued the state didn’t have authority to enforce Oregon cigarette regulations on his business because it's located on a reservation in New York state. But the Court of Appeals said his sales crossed state boundaries, giving Oregon jurisdiction. http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=inorco20100512530

The annual training and recertification of Hospital employees in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) was greatly enchanced this week when the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation and the PA Automotive Association presented a Resusci Anne training unit to KCH. Sue Zook Wilson, owner of Zook Motors, Inc. learned about the program and worked with KCH's Director of Nursing Pam Bray, RN to secure the gift, valued at $1,500, for Kane Community Hospital. Zook Motors became the sponsoring dealership for this gift. In presenting the CPR unit, which is essential for CPR training, Matt Rhodes, Western Regional Manager of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, Pennsylvania Truck Dealers said, "if the right kind of treatment can be given to a heart attack victim within seconds after he or she is stricken, the chances are good that a life can be saved. CPR training teaches emergency professionals, as well as ordinary citizens, how to

Crews resumed repair work on the Toles Hollow Road Bridge in Potter County yesterday, May 12. The repair work requires closure of the bridge and a detour around the work. The detour makes use of Route 6, Route 3015, Dutch Hill Road (T-328), and Vader Hill Road (T-327). The Toles Hollow Bridge spans the Allegheny River on Toles Hollow Road (T-325) near the intersection with Route 6 in Coudersport. Work includes repairs to the bridge deck and floor beams. PennDOT expects repair work to be finished sometime in June. The bridge will be re-opened once repairs are complete. All work is weather dependent. The repair work will help extend the useful life of the bridge, until a replacement project can take place. PennDOT currently plans to replace the bridge in 2013. L.C. Whitford of Wellsville, New York is the contractor on this bridge job, which is part of a $4.8 million contract for preservation work on six bridges in four counties. This 6-bridge project is financed with federal funds fr

Bradford City Police answered a variety of calls throughout the city late Tuesday and Wednesday. Officers received reports of stolen property on East Main Street, a stolen vehicle on Cole Avenue and a vehicle complaint on Forman Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Police also got complaints about juveniles on East Main and State streets, alarms on East Main Street and a school, and harassment on Bushnell Street. They were called to a couple of domestic disputes and had a couple of requests to speak with an officer. They received a report of an erratic driver on Jackson Avenue, a suspicious person on Main Street, a prowler on Chautauqua Place and an unwanted person on West Washington Street. They were also asked to check an area on Congress Street and help quiet a howling dog on Park Street.

A U.S. appeals court says taking John and Timothy Rigas to trial a second time may amount to double jeopardy. The Adelphia Communications founder and his son are already serving sentences for fraud and conspiracy convictions in New York. John Rigas is serving a 12-year prison term and Timothy Rigas a 17-year term. Prosecutors say they defrauded the former Coudersport company out of $1.9 billion. The Justice Department wants to prosecute them a second time in Pennsylvania for alleged failure to pay taxes on that money, a charge that wasn’t filed in the first case. But a 7-4 majority of 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals judges say the two cases stem from one criminal conspiracy with overlapping acts and participants. They have ordered the trial judge to review the record with that in mind.

Four companies showed their commitment to Pennsylvania families at a check presentation event hosted by St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School System today. CSX Transportation, Grane Health Care, RBC Capital Markets and Williams- Transco Pipeline were able to provide scholarships to Northern Pennsylvania families because of their participation in Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. The business executives were on hand and made the announcement of $41,410 of EITC scholarship donations for qualified families who attend St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School System, St. Bernards, Paint & Play, Elk County Catholic and DuBois Central Catholic. Senator Joe Scarnati and Representative Matt Gabler were also in attendance. Teachers, families and students attended the event to thank the donors for their tuition assistance and to thank their local elected officials for their support of the EITC Program. Bridge Educational Foundation serves as the bridge betwee

A federal judge has issued an order blocking Governor David Paterson from imposing furloughs on about 100,000 state workers. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn says that until he rules on the union lawsuits seeking an injunction, Paterson and lawmakers are temporarily blocked from implementing any furloughs. Earlier this week, the Legislature approved unpaid furloughs one day a week in a short-term funding measure. The next hearing on the matter is May 26.

Buffalo, NY — Dr. James Marshall, PhD, Senior Vice President for Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and newly named Roswell Park Alliance Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Prevention, has received a two-year, $300,000 grant from the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). The grant is one of 12 Creativity Awards given by the PCF to “support innovative projects because of their potential to fast-forward discovery and deliver game-changing results for prostate cancer research.” Dr. Marshall’s grant will fund a multisite intervention trial that will test the results of putting men with small, low-grade prostate cancers on a diet low in animal products. Marshall and his team ­— which includes researchers both at RPCI and at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego — will identify 450 men with prostate cancer from across the country, all considered to be low-risk. For the 225 in the experimental group, the researchers wi

New York Governor David Paterson has announced that the special election to fill the empty 29th Congressional District seat will be held November 2 – the same day as the general election. The seat has been empty since Eric Massa resigned in March amid a sex scandal. Paterson said he was concerned about the financial burden of holding a special election so close to the general election, and also about some counties using new electronic voting machines for the first time. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/051210SpecialElection.html

Cattaraugus County Public Defender Mark Williams says his staff is nearing a crisis and will not be able to handle many more cases without additional help. In his annual report to the county Legislature, Williams says that there’s been a 60 percent increase in cases since 2004. The office has 5 attorneys, an investigator, two legal secretaries and a receptionist. The size of the staff has remained the same while the case load has increased. e-mail from Williams' office

An Oil City man has been arrested for running a meth lab. Attorney General Tom Corbett says 28-year-old Shawn Adams was arrested following a search of his home. The search came after agents from Corbett’s office and officers from the Titusville Police Department got a tip saying Adams was offering to exchange methamphetamine for pseudoephedrine and other meth-related ingredients. He faces up 17 years in prison and more than $100,000 in fines if he’s convicted. He’s in jail without bail for violating terms of a previous probation. http://attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=5310

A Salamanca man is dead after his car collided with a dump truck Monday morning on Route 15A in Lima, New York. State police say a car driven by 61-year-old Lucius Stephens crossed into the opposite lane of travel and hit a 10-wheel dump truck at 9:10 a.m. Stephens was extracted from his vehicle by the Lima Fire Department and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where he later died. The driver of the dump truck, 54-year-old Steven Snyder Steuben County, was not hurt.

Bradford City Police on Tuesday investigated a burglary on West Corydon Street, a motor vehicle accident at North and High streets, and criminal mischief to a vehicle on Boylston Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers also got reports of an erratic driver on Jackson Avenue, a suspicious person on Main Street and alarms on Chestnut Street and at Futures. They also received a complaint about noise on Bedford Street and were asked to check on a person at the library.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford City Council wants to keep a local waterway from flooding, and keep a major employer happy, but money is a key issue. Council held a work session prior to Tuesday's regular meeting to discuss replacement of the Seaward Avenue bridge over Bolivar Run. Office of Economic and Community Development Executive Director Sara Andrews explained that the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission and PennDOT want to know if the city still wants the project in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP consists of the first four years of PennDOT's Twelve Year Program. It’s a "living document" that is constantly being revised and amended. The official TIP is updated every two years. Harold Bloomgren of Northwest Engineering in Tidioutte said after the flooding of 2003, KOA approached the OECD and asked for help. He said because the company is not locally owned, another flooding of their prop

A Machias man has pleaded guilty to robbery and burglary. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, the Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s office says 22-year-old Mark Oakes Jr. stole property and displayed what appeared to be a gun during an incident on September 5 in Farmersville. He’ll be sentenced July 19.

Two people were hurt in an accident on Route 948 in Jones Township at around 11:30 this morning. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, State police say a vehicle driven by 60-year-old George Thorwart of Wilcox was trying to turn left in a gravel turnaround and was hit by a vehicle driven by 50-year-old Connie Bliss of Wellington, Kentucky. After the collision, Bliss’s vehicle veered off the road and hit a utility pole. Bliss and her passenger suffered minor injuries and were taken to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment.

An Eldred woman is in jail after being accused of poking a state trooper in the eye this morning in the Bradford Regional Medical Center emergency room. In a fax to WESB and The HERO, State police say they went to the 36-year-old woman’s house after a complaint of a disturbance. Police determined that the woman needed to go to the hospital because of physical and mental health concerns. Police say at the hospital the woman became agitated because of substance withdrawal, got angry and started arguing with Trooper David Andrasko. She then poked Andrasko above his left eye, causing bleeding. The woman, whose name was not released, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. Her bail is set at $10,000.

A Clarion man is accused of using Internet chat rooms to proposition a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl, suggesting that they meet for sex with multiple people and with a dog. 27-year-old Brandon Galford is jailed on $100,000 bail. The "girl" was actually an undercover agent from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a child. Attorney General Tom Corbett said Galford urged the girl to visit him, commenting, "You should come to my area so I can get you pregnant," and also asked if he could have sex with both the girl and her mother. http://attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=5308

The state is leasing more forest land to a company that wants to drill for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region and, as a result, Governor Ed Rendell is supporting legislation that will put a moratorium on leasing additional state forest land for gas drilling. He's also reiterating his call for a Marcellus Shale severance tax. Rendell says Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has agreed to pay Pennsylvania $120 million for the right to drill on 33,000 acres where Centre, Clinton and Lycoming counties meet. The newly leased acres cover 11 tracts in the Moshannon, Sproul and Tiadaghton state forests. For 27,185 acres on ten tracts, Anadarko agreed to pay $4,000 per acre, consistent with the average price paid during DCNR's January 2010 competitive lease sale. For the remaining 5,711 acres on one tract, the Commonwealth will receive $2,000 per acre because the geology underneath is not as promising for gas production. The lease of the 11 tracts totals about $120 million. DC

HARRISBURG -- A new investment by Pennsylvania will help a leading oilfield services company expand its operations in Jefferson County and create more than 50 jobs, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today. Schlumberger Technologies Corp. is planning to locate a centralized maintenance and remanufacturing operation for its northeast region in an 183,000-square-foot Pine Creek Township facility that once housed a company called Trail King. The new location will help the company improve service for its customers working in the Marcellus Shale industry. The $5.6 million project will create at least 51 full-time jobs within three years. It will also retain 77 existing employees statewide. "Schlumberger's decision means the arrival of dozens of high-paying jobs in Jefferson County and it speaks well of our economic climate," said Governor Rendell. "The Marcellus Shale presents an opportunity for many businesses and for Pennsylvania's workers. With this project, we're

Harrisburg – Twenty years of coordinated efforts to restore life to the West Branch Susquehanna River in north-central Pennsylvania have led to marked improvements in water quality, as well increases in fish populations and diversity that are detailed in a benchmark study announced today by Trout Unlimited. The study was coordinated by Trout Unlimited in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and an alliance of approximately 30 watershed associations, conservation districts, and local businesses comprising the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition. “The West Branch Susquehanna River is the centerpiece of the Pennsylvania Wilds, yet more than 1,000 miles of this majestic river and its tributaries are sterile or badly degraded from mine drainage and pollution from thousands of acres of abandoned mine sites,” said J. Scott Roberts, DEP’s deputy secretary for Mineral Resources M

About 30 people have been arrested as part of an Indiana County heroin trafficking crackdown. Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says the investigation has targeted street- and mid-level dealers who buy the drugs in the Pittsburgh area for distribution elsewhere. Corbett says many of the dealers would buy 50 to 100 bags of heroin at a time in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and sell them for about $20 each in Indiana County. He says the investigation was started because of an increase in heroin use by college and high school students in the area. http://attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=5278

Due to inclement weather, the first Lunch in the Square of the season, scheduled for Wednesday, has been cancelled.

Two Cattaraugus County men are accused of breaking into a drug store and stealing thousands of pills. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Sheriff’s deputies say 20-year-old Cory Jones of Ellicottville and 18-year-old Derek Dallas of Franklinville broke into The Corner Drug Store in Cattaraugus at about 4 o’clock on the morning of May 5. They are being charged with stealing several thousand prescription medication pills. Jones and Dallas were sent to jail on $5,000 bail each.

Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) McKean County Dental Center is pleased to announce the addition of Thomas J. Sabuda, D.D.S., to its staff of dentists. Dr. Sabuda was brought on to meet the large and growing dental care needs of the community and surrounding areas. “This was a wonderful opportunity for us to expand dental care access to the Bradford community. We’re extremely pleased to have Dr. Sabuda on staff at our dental center,” said David Kobis, BRMC’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Dr. Sabuda is a very experienced, quality dentist and his services will be welcomed at the dental center.” Dr. Sabuda of Springville had been a staff dentist at Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Gowanda, N.Y, for the past nine years. He is a 1970 graduate of the School of Dentistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Sabuda is licensed to practice dentistry in both Pennsylvania and New York. BRMC’s McKean County Dental Center at 600 Chestnut St. offers den

Pennsylvania Shawn Kronenwetter, St. Mary’s High School 6’ 190lbs. Running back / Linebacker Shawn plans to attend Westminster College in New Willington, PA for 4 years and play football at the next level. While attending Shawn plans on majoring in Criminal Justice and pursue a career in Law Enforcement. Shawn’s honors include: High Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA, 2 Varsity letters in football, 300 lb. club, 150% Club for Bench Pressing, and many other academic awards. Shawn said, “I want to play in the Big 30 game because I want to have the chance/opportunity to play with fellow athletes from surrounding school districts before moving on to the college level.” Cody Crosby, Eisenhower High School 6’4” 210lbs. Quarterback / Punter Cody will be attending Gannon University to play football for the Golden Knights and major in Mechanical Engineering. Cody’s honors include: All Region Teams his Junior and Senior years in Football, Basketball and Baseball, All District

Four St. Bonaventure basketball players will pay fines after pleading guilty in connection with a fight they had with JCC basketball players in March. 20-year-old Maclolm Eleby; 18-year-old Brett Roseboro; 22-year-old Da Quan Cook; and 22-year-old Lewis Leonard were all charged with disorderly conduct. On Friday, Leonard said he’s leaving St. Bonaventure. Two JCC players were stabbed during the incident, but neither was seriously hurt. Three JCC players are facing similar charges.

Former Bradford Area High School basketball coach Dave Fuhrman was honored during Monday's school board meeting. Among the people on hand to talk about Fuhrman's passion for the game were Elk County Catholic coach Aaron Straub. (You can hear some of his comments here .) and former Punxsutawney coach Bill Vassallo. BAHS Athletic Director Tim Walter read a letter from former player Tyler Ridgeway. Former player Pat Lyons was there in person. You can hear some of his comments here . Also speaking were two players from this years team -- Evan Kline and Fuhrman's son Pug. Fuhrman's daughter Shelley, along with many friends and former players, were on hand as well. Fuhrman said he’s proud of his record over the last 24 years, but he’s more proud of the young men he coached. "What some of these guys have gone on to become in life – if basketball had just a little part of it – I’m the luckiest guy on the face of the Earth. I really am," he said.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director For the ninth year in a row, the Bradford Area School Board will not be raising taxes. District Business Manager Kathy Kelly made the announcement during Monday’s School Board meeting, adding that there will be no reduction in programs. School District Superintendent Sandra Romanowski added that although they’re not eliminating programs, they continue to evaluate programs. “If we have a program that’s costing a lot of money and not getting much of a result, and we can’t students’ performance increasing from that, or we can’t see long-term impact from those programs, we will shift money,” she said. “We will move it to where we think it will best serve students,” she added. In her presentation to the board, Kelly noted that the districts revenue locally, and from the federal government, is down a total of $224,000. She said the state share has continued to increase, primarily because “Governor (Ed) Rendell … (has) fought very hard for public educa

A Dunkirk man who apparently had a hankering for surf ‘n’ turf is now facing a petit larceny charge. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say that on Friday 42-year-old Jeffrey Fellinger took $78.96 worth of strip steak and shrimp from Tops Market in Dunkirk without paying for it. He was given an opportunity to go back to the store the next day and pay for the stolen items, but he didn’t do that. Deputies picked him up at his home today. He was arraigned, then released pending a future court appearance.

Bradford City Police on Monday looked into fights on East Main and Mechanic streets, harassment on Williams Street and Euclid Avenue and disturbances on School Street and Interstate Parkway, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers also responded to alarms on Sherman and Chestnut streets, a theft on Mechanic Street and motor vehicle accidents on Williams and South Center streets. They also got reports of a parking problem on Williams Street and suspicious activity on Congress Street. And, they got five requests to speak with an officer.

The New York State Legislature tonight voted for a one-week budget extender that will require about 100,000 state workers to take an unpaid day off beginning next week. A vote against Governor David Paterson’s latest budget extender would have meant a total shutdown of state government until a budget is passed. The budget was due April 1. In the Senate, the extender passed on a straight party-line vote of 32-29. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Austin Shafran, spokesman for Senate Majority Conference Leader John Sampson, said, “Though the governor’s furlough plan is potentially an unlawful breach of contract, we will not jeopardize the health, safety and livelihood of millions of New Yorkers by stopping government.” In the Assembly the final vote was 82-56, with some Democrats voting against the measure. "I recognize that these furloughs represent a difficult sacrifice for many of the State's public employees," Paterson said in a news release. "That sacrifice

Two women suffered minor injuries in an accident at just before 4:30 this afternoon at routes 5 and 20 in the Town of Hanover. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say 63-year-old Janis Grieswich of Silver Creek was attempting to cross the intersection and didn’t see a vehicle driven by 40-year-old Pauline Stanton of Erie. Stanton’s vehicle hit the back of Grieswich’s vehicle. Both women were taken by ambulance to Lake Shore hospital for treatment of their injuries. No charges have been filed.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford closed out its Kaleidoscope school matinee series with two sold-out performances of “Junie B. Jones” Monday. The stage version of the popular easy reader was one of eight matinees put on for elementary, middle and high school students at a low cost to schools. Tickets for the shows ranged from $4 to $8. Kaleidoscope sold close to 5,700 tickets during its 2009-10 season, which included selections for every age range, according to Patty Colosimo, assistant director of arts programming and coordinator of the series. Elementary and middle school-age children enjoyed a musical version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”; another storybook musical, “If You Give a Pig a Pancake”; “CSI: Live,” a CSI-based science show that was so popular a third matinee was scheduled; and “Harriet Tubman,” about the hero of the Underground Railroad. French students from around the region attended a performance by the Canadian French musical group Grand Dérangement a

ALBANY - Republicans in the State Senate are joining the call for a special election in the 29th Congressional district, to let voters decide who will replace former Congressman Eric Massa, according to Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean). They have introduced a resolution calling on Governor Paterson to immediately set a date for a special election to fill the vacant seat. “There are nearly 700,000 residents in this state that have not had representation in Washington at a time when historic decisions in health care, national security and job creation are being made. We face unprecedented economic and fiscal challenges and it’s imperative we have representation in Congress,” said Senator Young. Former Congressman Eric Massa resigned on March 8, yet Governor Paterson has not yet declared a vacancy and publically announced this week that he was inclined to wait until the primary and general elections to fill the seat. Shortly after Massa’s resignation, Senato